Ances



April 12 1927.

ATTO R N EVS April 12,1927.

G. E. NQRTHRQP MAILING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 2l. 1925 6 ShetS-Sheet 2 IIHIIVHHIIIIIIIlUnH'IIIII' lll IIIIIIIJI Il- -h INVENTOR l @ea/'geIO/'rop ATTOR N EVS Apl 12,1927. 1,624,899

G. E. NORTHROP MAILING MACHINE originalmed Deo. 21. 1925 e sheets-sheet s INVENTOR ATT() R N EVS:

April 12 1927.

G. E. NORTHROP MAILING MACHINE Original Filed Dec, 21. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOR N [YS April 12 1927. 1,624,899

G. E. NORTHROP MAILING MACHINE originawiled Dec. 21. 1925 s sheets-sheet s April 12, 1927.

G. E. NORTHRQP MAILING MACHINE original Filed Deo. 21, 1925` 6 sheets-sheet e INVENII'OH ATTOR N EVS Patented Apr. l2?, i927.

GEORGE E. MORTI-IRO?, OF STAMFGRD, CNNECTICUT, ASSGNOR TO REID STAR APPLL ANGES, NC., Ol? STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CGRPRTION OF DELAVARE.

MAILNG MACHINE.

The present invention relates to machines l'or sealing envelopes, and for printing with ink on the tace oit the envelope, as, for instance, to cancel a Government stamp that previously has been atl'iiied on the envelope and to place adjacent to thecancelled stamp the name of the post oilice, the date and hour of cancellation, and t-he permit number of the user. The machine is also ot service for counting envelopes, cards, and other fiat objects, and can be used for printing small inscriptions thereon simultaneously with the counting.

rlhis application is a division ot' my copending application, Serial No. 78,524, tiled December 31, 1925.

Although the machine is capable et a wide variety of uses, it is intended particularly tor sealing stamped envelopes, and then cancelling the Government stamp and counting' the number of stamps so cancelled.

Envelopes to be used in this Way may be of the Character new furnished by the United States Government, and having the postage stamp formed directly inthe paper of the envelope, or equally well, may be plain envelopes to which adhesive Government stamps have been amazed.

When the sealed envelopes come from the machine with the stamps cancelled, and with the name o'l the post oilicc and the date printed thereon, they can be delivered in bulk to the post otice and there can be distributed directly into the outgoing pouches Without the delays and labor incident to first placing them face up on the sorting table and then passing them through the stamp cancelling device now commonly used by the Government employees. In other words, by the use of this machine, much ol the labor now done at the post oilce is done belore the mail reaches the post office, with a consequent saving in time in placingl the mail in transit to its destination.

The receivingplatform of the present ma. chine is so arranged thatthe envelopes may be stacked with their bodies substantially horizontal and their "liaps l'ianging downward over the edge ot' the platform, and in shingled relation, a driven roller being provided Yfor advancing the lower-most envelope of the stack into engagement with the feed roller ot the machine, and means being provided at the lront and on each side of the Divided and this application filed April stack of envelopes for keeping the envelopes in proper alignment.

The machine also embodies a cylindrical barrier above the feed roll and serving to hold bach' all but the lowermost envelope ol the stack. This barrier or baffle is pivotally mounted so that the wear on it can be distributed over its entire surface.

A moistening devicer of novel construction and ted with water 'from a constant level fountain serves to meisten the flap ot each envelope during` its passage over the feed roll. Transfer rolls and a cooperatinginclined plate or guide serve to l'oldV the gun'imed flap upward against the body of its envelope. Ultimately the forwardly moving envelope trips a printing mechanism which, by a rolling movement over the travelling envelope, cancels the postage stamp and prints adjacent thereto yother data, such as the name of the post oliice, the date and hour of cancellation, and the like. Counting mechanism operatively connected with the printing mechanism records the number of printed imprints, and consequently the number of envelopes, cards, or the like, that have been passed through the printing mechanism. The printing mechanism itself is so mounted that it easily can be removed tor adjustment or repair or for changes in the dies and type with which it is equipped. The dies and type are secured inplace in novel manner to permit replacement without the aid of special tools.

Power for the machine is supplied by an electric motor through a driving belt, the tension of which can be readily adjusted. Anti-friction wood bearings are used Wherever needed to insure quiet operation and to obviate the need for oil in places from Which it might be distributed to fthe passing envelopes.

Other objects and details of the complete machine will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine Fig. 9. is a plan view ot' the same with the printing and discl'xarge end removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the printing and discharge end of the machine;

Fig. 4 shows the machine in end elevation as viewed from the intake end;

Figs.. 5` and6"are respectively sectional elevations on the lines 5-5 and 6--6 or Fig, ,7 shows a-clutchmechanism for one` of the rolls. Frame-'work am] Pennini/rtg platform (Figs. 1, Z, 5, 6, md 7).

The` frame Werl; or Sth-e lmach ine Ycomprises a cast metal base 1 integral with Ewhich are four vertical supporting members 2 and and 4 and 5'arranged inv pairs, (Figs. Q and Ll). Connecting members 2 and 3 is an integral transverse stiii'enng web (l and con: necting ymembers aand 5 is a Vsinnlar vveb 4. Bolted against the outer edges or members 2 and 4 is a cast metal boi; 8, the lower race or which rests on base 1 and the upper face of which serves a support lor a horizontal platform 9: The latter extending the entire length or' the mac line is cut away at appropriate points to permit rollers to come 1n contactfwith the passing envelopes. On the outside of lbox 8 is a vertical sheet metal plate l10 which serves to coverup certain ot the gears and other elements.

Attheother-sideot the machine is a cast# ing-ot irregular shape comprlsine a channel llhaving tivo depending legs i2 and 13,' one ofvvh'ich is bolted to supporting member 3 and the other of which is bolted to supn portingn'iember Mounted abov'echannel 11 is ahorizontal platform la which covers up certain or the movingelements.

Thereceiving platform for the envelopes to be sealed is at the left handend ot the machine, as viewed inA Fig. 1, and includes abelt driven-drinn ll This drum 15 coinprises a cylinder 1t` on which are tivo rubb'er treads 17` and 1S.v The cylinder is mounted ona metal shait 19, the ends or which aresecurcd by bolts Q0 and 2l to a pairfof brackets 22 and 2S (Fig. Ll) carried' lied on to give good rictional engagement with the treac.` lilach'envelope7 as it reaches th'e `bottom or' the stack, will be advanced into the i machine.k

The feed/ng roll and baffles (Figs. 1,2 an .5).

Vhile/an envelope is being advanced by the belt driven drum 15, it is gripped betweena large feeding roll or drinn Q6 and a small cylindricalbalile Il'. The'reeding drum Ahas a sott-'rubber tread 2S, and has la hub on which ismounted a driving pulley shaft 31. This shaft passes through antifriction Wooden collars 32 and 313 inserted 11n the tubular extension 3l or the cast/metal box 8, and carries a large gear vvheel 35 by which it is driven.

The upper roll 27 is secured lo a shaft 3G supported in arms 23T and 38- which are integral with a hub 23) mounted to swing on a shartt l0. This sha Ml() is mounted on channel 11 'and serves as a support for other elements as hereina'll pointed out.

The ends of arms 23'? and 33 are connected by a shaft fll to which is attached a vertical link which passes through a bracletl- (F Vand screw thread-edto receive an adju nut #leland lock nut Lil-5j @oiled about this link is a compression springl: held between bracket 43 and a` collar 47. Upward movement ot roll 2T swings arms 3T and 38l about shart Ll0 and compresses spring llo.

The upper roll 27 does not rotate freely With a passing envelope, but on the contrary, is held'against free rotation by a spring#V pressed ball (Fig. T) housed'inarm'ST in clutching` engagen'ient"with the shaft 3G to Which roll @Tis rigidly connected.` Roll' 27 therefore acts as a restraining baffle to hold back the stack or eiwelopes While'the lovvermost envelope is being pushed 'forward by the rubber treads on reed roll' QG? There is, however, enough slippage at'clutch 3G to permit small rotary movements or roll 27.A Itis in this manner thatthe Wear on roll QTis equali'zed. The rol'ltcan, olf-course, be turned backward-by hand at any time, to. present a fresh Wearing surface oppositeA to the reed roll 2G.

Supplementing the action' or the cylindrical restraining baille` Qi' are a pair or' inclined bailles i8 and t), one on each side. of roll sheet metal and has its 'forward end Wrapped around shatt'ill.. The other vend ot each battle passes up between arms 37 and 38 and connects with a horizontal lingerO.

Througlrthis linger is treaded a-verti'cal-y bolt 51 having a lool: nut (Fig: 1). The lovverend of the bolt rests on'hnb 395 Af tension spring 53 tendsto hold the screw in Contact Withv the hub.

With thethicliness or the envelopes Which are being passed through the nrachine.`

The drie@ (Fz'gs. 1 to o inclus/hie).

The source of poiveris-anA electric motor:

187 secured'to base 1` by boltsrlSS-Whichslide in slots 189 (Fig. 2) to permit adjust- Each orithese baffles is made ot' An adjustment Y or the screwcan be made to re'gulatethe eleva-V tion or the -barllesS-and i9 in conformity` shaft 192 which diives a pinion 193 meshing with pinion 132 on shaft` 126. Gear 132 meshes'with a lower gear 194 (Fig. 2) secured on a stub shaft which shaft is connected through universal joints and a connecting shaft, to a stub shaft 202 on which is secured a pinion 203. The latter meshes with the gear 204 (Fig. 2) on stub shaft 205. Gear 20a meshes with a wide pinion 98 fastened to a shaft 9st (Fig. 6), whereby the transfer rolls are driven. Pinion 98 also meshes with gear 207 (Fig. 1) mounted on a .stub shaft 208 and meshing with a gear 35 whereby the feeding drum is driven. The drum 15 is driven from the feeding drum shaft by a belt 25 passing over a pulley 24 connected to the drum 15 and a pulley 29 secured to the shaft 31.

The operation.

Envelopes are stacked on the platform one above another in substantially horizontal position with their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of the table. rlhe spring pressed side battle 209, in conjunction with the opposed baffle, keeps the lowerinost envelope in alignment with the feeding drum. Envelopes are picked olf one by one from the bottom of the stack by the rubber treads 17 and 18 of the belt driven roller 15, and are delivered under the plate 1li-8 which acts as a front baille. Ultimately a travelling envelope is dragged forward by the feeding drum and slides across the lower face of the relatively stationary cylindrical baflie 27 while at the saine time the damp bristles of a inoistening drum wipe the gummed flaps. During this operation the flap of the envelope is held against lateral movement by a linger 210 (Fig. l) on baffle 209 and by an opposed bracket 211 suspended from the top platform 9 of the machine.

The means for adjusting the machine to envelopes of different thicknesses has already been described. To adjust for envelopes of different widths, there is provided at the intake end of the machine (Fig. 4) a baffle plate 215 suspended. from a shaft 216 by arms 217 and 218 and locked in position on that shaft by a spring plate 219 which grips the shaft 1 and has a convenient thumb piece by which that gripping may be released to permit shifting of the baille along the shaft. The lower end of this baflie rests on platform 9.

Changes may be made in details of the machine without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

l claim:

1, ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation, a power driven drum for advancing the lowermost envelope of the stack, and a feeding drinn to which said advanced envelope is delivered.

2.1na machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation, a power driven drum for advancing the lowermost envelope, a feeding drum to which said advanced envelope is delivered, and a relatively stationary battle under which said envelope passes.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, a cylindrical baffle under which said envelope is dra-wn by said drum, and guide plates on both sides of the stack of envelopes, substantially as described.

Ll. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing the lowermost envelope of the stack, a cylindrical bailie under which said envelope is drawn by said drum, and a ball clutch restraining said baiiie against free rotation with the travelling envelope.

5.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their' bodies substantially horizontal and their liaps hanging downward in shingled relation, a feeding drum for withdrawing an envelope from the stack, a cylindrical baille across the face of which said .envelope is withdrawn by said drum, a ball clutch restraining said baffle against free rotation with the travelling envelope but permitting rotation in the opposite direction, and spring pressed means for permitting said baille to swing away from said drum when envelopes of greater thickness are to be handled.

0. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a platform on which a stack of envelopes may be placed with their bodies substantially horizontal and their flaps hanging downward in shingled relation at the side of said platform, a feeding drum having a wide rubber tread adapted to contact with the lowermost envelope of the stack, a cylindrical baliie having a smooth surface for yieldingly engaging the envelope, and a swinging baffle at the side of said cylindrical battle.

7. Inf an machine of: the character Cle-- scribed; thes'coinbination lof ,al platformen:A whiclra stack of envelopesmay be: placed. Witlr their bodiessubstantially` honizontalzr,

and their flapsv hanging, downward; inY shi-ngied `relationat the side. 01:' said platforin, af feeding drinn having a wide rubber tread adapted to Contact with--the:lowerT most envelope oi? the stas i, a Cylii'idricalr balelmving a Smooth surface flfor yieldingl-y engaging the envelope, and ,a spring` pressed baillealoealied on each' side of [said cylindrical blflir machine ot the character which a stack1 of .envelopes may be placed witlrtheir bodies substantially horizontal:

downward in'- and, their flaps hanging` shingled relalnoiral: the side of Szii-d'pfla'h torni, aefeeding drinn for withdrawing the lowerinost envelope ofy the stack, aspring:

pnessed plxce for progressivi-*ely pushing sai-d envelopes laterally into proper alignment;

with said feeding drinn, ,anda guide lpleite opposed `thereto .and adjustableV to accommodate envelopes ofmliilf ,rentwidths 9; Ina machine of the` Character described, the Combination of 'ci-platform on which-,a stuck of envelopes niaylbe'plaeed with their bodiessubstantially horizontal de scribed, the"combination of'afplat'forrnmm and. their flaps'f hanging downward.' n;-I sh'ingled relation; at: the :side off; said'. plate` I for-nr, a; powert; driven` roller projecting? through saidxplatforin, and Aonw-hioh said; stack of ensvelopes rests, a ifeedingydrumnfora 35 withdrawl' nggthe :lower-most envelope of ithe steelt; endla spning pressedwplae foinprof gressi velys` pushing gsai'de' stack?` of f eirvelopes.A laterally i soffthnt atiall itiinesfthelowerniost envelope'will be 'inoperative alignn'ient within)A sa id feeding.l rdrnm.:`

lOi- In' machine of:` thek charaeterade.lv scribed, the.V Conibinntiom off au p'latfornr.. onv` which a stackio'l enwelopes-nmypberplaoedi with'theirf bodies substantially horiz'ontal`45:

ande their flaps*l hanging: dowimmrdf im shingled relation. atithel'sidvoi:said plat-4V forni, :1, feeding drinnforrwithdrawing-the lowerinost envelope,y of4 thev stack, a belt driven roll on whichY thestaclof envelopes 50.

GEORGE NORTHROP. 

